The Center is proud to be a Knowledge Partner Member of SBC.
Reliable communication is critical during every emergency incident. Firefighters, EMS, law enforcement officers and other emergency responders depend on vital communications to perform their jobs effectively and safely. Too often, however, emergency personnel experience poor radio frequency (RF) signals during life and property saving activities because “dead spots,” which are pervasive throughout many buildings, compromise their ability to effectively communicate thereby impeding their ability to safely mitigate the incident.
ERRC Systems Enable Emergency Response Personnel to Save Lives!
In-building emergency responder radio coverage (ERRC) systems provide a solution for emergency responders by boosting radio signals that enhance in-building coverage during the incident. This creates obvious benefits to occupants, building owners, emergency responders, insurance industry, and the public. In jurisdictions where ERRC laws are not adopted or code requirements are not enforced, buildings such as schools, hospitals, government buildings, transportation stations, recreation facilities and other places where people assemble can be exposed to major safety and security gaps. Building occupants and public safety responders deserve the comfort and security of knowing that readily available protections are in place to assure their safety.
The Center for Campus Fire Safety supports the installation of ERRC systems where needed and urges all state, local and federal governments to adopt and enforce ERRC technology as a priority. Specifically, The Center for Campus Fire Safety encourages that local and state governments adopt model code language that provide requirements for new and existing commercial buildings to have a specified level of communications coverage for public safety and the public’s safety.
New Construction: Prior to receiving a certificate of occupancy for new construction of a commercial/covered building, the owner or operator of such commercial building shall have conducted a radio frequency site survey to determine whether the commercial building has approved radio coverage. If the assessment demonstrates that the in-building radio signal strength of the public safety radio system fails to provide approved radio coverage, then an approved emergency responder radio coverage system shall be installed and maintained in accordance with adopted codes and standards before occupancy.
Existing Buildings: The owner or operator of an existing commercial/covered building shall have conducted a radio frequency site survey to determine whether the commercial [covered] building has approved radio coverage. If the assessment demonstrates that the in-building radio signal strength of the public safety radio system fails to provide approved radio coverage, then an approved emergency responder radio coverage system shall be installed and maintained in accordance with adopted codes and standards. Applicable Codes and Standards: ERRC systems shall be installed in accordance with the most recent version of applicable national consensus codes and standards. Very Truly Yours, Justin Daniels President, The Center for Campus Fire Safety
Center President, Justin Daniels participated on a panel discussion concerning Campus Public Safety Communication Insights – a Focused Panel of Higher-Ed Experts. Other panel members included Steve Ambrose - DAS Project Manager, Texas Christian University and Mark Reynolds - Associate Director IT, University of New Mexico. Discussions were moderated by Seth Buechley, Founder – Safer Buildings Coalition, CEO, Cathedral Consulting